I'm with you 100% on this one. So many serve so honorably to protect us, regardless of the political machinations which place them in harm's way. They deserve every ounce of our thanks and respect.

In the same vein, I would place police officers and firefighters among those deserving of honor. They, too, risk their lives every day to serve their communities, and in my opinion they get far less respect than they deserve.

Regarding Captain Freeman: I wonder if he was the inspiration for the pilot in the movie "We Were Soldiers" who performed the same kind of feats. I know the book that the movie was based upon was a true story. Could it have been him?